15Dependability Engineering for Data Center Infrastructures

Malik Megdiche

Schneider Electric, Grenoble, France

15.1 Introduction

Reliability engineering is defined as the science of failure. The first issues and reliability concepts appeared at the beginning of the twentieth century. Today, reliability engineering is widely used in many areas. A short history of reliability engineering is presented in Figure 15.1.

c15-fig-0001

Figure 15.1 Historical development of dependability engineering during the twentieth century.

Reliability engineering uses equipment reliability statistics, probability theories, system functional analysis, and dysfunctional analysis to set requirements, measure or predict reliability, identify system weakness points, and propose improvements of the system. Various reliability engineering techniques are used in reliability engineering:

  • Equipment reliability analysis
    • Field experience reliability statistics
    • Reliability testing
    • Accelerated life testing
  • System reliability and availability analysis
    • Qualitative analysis
      • – Hazard risk analysis
      • – Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)
    • Reliability prediction
      • – Electronic FMEA
      • – Fault tree analysis
      • – Statistical simulations
    • Maintainability analysis
  • Integrated logic support

Reliability engineering techniques can be used for Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety purposes. As this chapter is dedicated to reliability ...

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